Virginia Beach officials are poised to place a 12-month pause on permitting new data centers while staff and elected leaders develop a regulatory framework for the industry, Mayor and city planners said ahead of a council vote this week.
Why the pause?
City staff informed the Planning Commission that the local zoning code currently lacks specific definitions and standards for data centers — including setbacks, acceptable noise levels and other operational thresholds. With no clear industry best practices adopted locally, leaders say a temporary moratorium would allow time to research rules used elsewhere and draft a tailored ordinance.
Potential regulatory topics include energy use, noise, land use and water usage, staff told the commission. The action comes after months of debate in the city about whether large-scale data centers should be permitted at all and if so, under what conditions.
"We're not only saying no to data centers, we're saying hell no to data centers,"
Mayor Bobby Dyer said earlier this summer, reflecting the public push from some officials to block large-scale facilities from being sited near neighborhoods.
Local and regional context
Members of the Planning Commission and some council representatives have endorsed a temporary moratorium to close what they describe as a loophole that allows by-right development on certain industrial parcels. Planning Commission member Walter Camp told colleagues he would support recommending a moratorium until a new regulatory scheme is in place.
Other jurisdictions in Hampton Roads have already moved to pause new applications. Last month, Chesapeake approved an eight-month hold while it develops its own rules. City Council members and staff in Virginia Beach have cited those moves as examples to study.
- Duration proposed for Virginia Beach moratorium: 12 months
- Areas staff says need rules: energy, noise, land use, water
- Nearby city action: Chesapeake implemented an 8-month pause
| Jurisdiction | Moratorium length |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach (proposed) | 12 months |
| Chesapeake (approved) | 8 months |
Implications for development and residents
The pause would apply to permitting of new data centers as a primary use. Data centers, large facilities that house server racks, networking equipment and backup power systems, have prompted debate nationwide as their high power demands, large generators and substantial cooling systems can raise concerns about noise, local infrastructure strain and water consumption.
Supporters of the pause argue it will provide an opportunity to create clear standards so that any future proposals are evaluated consistently and community impacts are mitigated. Opponents — including some in the development community — have warned that moratoriums can stall investment and jobs while cities study the issues.
District 9 Councilman Joash Schulman told News 3 he supports the pause, saying he is "glad we are taking a pause to consider this topic in a thought" — comments city staff included in summaries of council reaction.
Council is scheduled to consider the resolution Tuesday. If approved, staff will continue researching practices used by other localities and draft amendments to the zoning ordinance that would establish definitions and standards for data center development in Virginia Beach.
As the city moves forward, officials will weigh whether to permit smaller or specialized facilities under new standards or maintain a stronger restriction on large-scale operations. The outcome could shape development opportunities on industrial parcels and influence how utilities, neighbors and environmental regulators engage with proposed projects in the coming years.
